If you're talking off road, then a few people I know experimented with fixed MTB and found all those fears regarding not be able to coast to avoid pedal strike on obstacles to be valid. Sometimes off road you need to be able to not pedal, such as jumping, rolling drop offs, hopping logs etc.

Grumps

You are very tedious, and grumpy. Stay at home and give advice from your armchair.- Stonedpirate, June 2010

on road was the plan, or an interesting trick bike.i wasnt thinking for a mtb that just seems silly to me. i'll give it a go and post my findings. i'm only 173cm tall, and 26" frames fit me a bit more comfortably for general riding and mucking around than my 27" roady, anyone recommend a brand of flip flop hub?

idw wrote:on road was the plan, or an interesting trick bike.i wasnt thinking for a mtb that just seems silly to me. i'll give it a go and post my findings. i'm only 173cm tall, and 26" frames fit me a bit more comfortably for general riding and mucking around than my 27" roady, anyone recommend a brand of flip flop hub?

If you are in Perth, I can build a new wheel with Formula flip/flop hub a new 26x1 3/8 cr rim...

well im kind of in regional victoria . i got one from the lbs with a 16t cog on it for 10 bucks just a second hand one, i'll get the freewheel of my old bmx and buld the wheel in a day or 2. not looking at spending anymore money on it, if i cant do it with my shed full of bits i put put it off till i can . missus thinks i have enough bikes as it is.

finaly got some time to dig the bike up out of the pile in the shed. its got a shimano tourney rear on it circ 1993~ so im changing my guess to its from about then its a malvern start renegade mtb and weights a tonne, has some cool bars on it though pictures soon.

MTB frames should have enough room to run a 700C wheel with a 28 or 32mm tyre. In fact, you may even have an advantage in that your bottom bracket would be slightly higher than on a road bicycle frame of similar size.

i'll put another pic up in the morning, it is a 26" frame for sure. the 700c doesnt fit because of the chainstay connection, i can squeeze a 700c into my old giant mtb frame. but it dont fit in the malern star frame because of the design i think it's designed like a very early mountainbike frame and just has the chainstay connection and the break mount with ought enough room. i like the fatter tyres tho. it's just a lazy hacked SS atm...with the 5 speed free wheel still on it hit the cranks with an angle grinder so fit a smaller chainring.

I've been thinking this myself - I have a Repco (salvaged) frame that is early MTB style.

As it bears a strong resemblance to a road frame, apart from the forks, really, I thought that having 26" fixed wheels might be a good idea. I'm not a wheel builder myself though ( but then again a few years ago I didn't have anything to do with bikes, so this may change !)

As an aside, I did experiment with a set of 700c wheels (with fixed cog) in the Repco, and they fit quite well. The brakes didn't though.

Richard

"There is nothing whatsoever that is not made easier with acquaintance" - Santideva

My first bike (I was 12!) was an old english 26 incher with a backpedal brake - this was way back in the early '70's and it had the brazed lug frame. Can't remember what happened to it, but it would have been a great fixie project - however, those really old frames are probably a bit on the heavy side by today's standards.

Who is online

About the Australian Cycling Forums

The largest cycling discussion forum in Australia for all things bike; from new riders to seasoned bike nuts, the Australian Cycling Forums are a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.